Base of Operations: Dimension of
Manifestations; the known universe, and possibly other realms as
well

First Appearance: Quasar#20 (March, 1991)

Powers: Undefined. The Anomaly is the
embodiment of all things that are like no other things. It obeys
no physical laws and is the exception to all rules. Its exact
abilities are unclear but it is not harmed by virtually any
conventional on unconventional attack. In addition, as an
abstract entity, it only takes physical form by drawing on matter
from the Dimension of Manifestations, to create a Manifestation,
or M-Body. Clearly the destruction of an M-Body would not destroy
the Anomaly's abstract existence, although it may prevent it from
interacting with others until it can form a new M-Body.

When it attacked Quasar, the quantum energy
bent around it, making it impervious to it, as well as allowing
it to penetrate it with ease. It could dampen the energy
sufficiently to prevent Quasar from quantum jumping away. The
only way Quasar was able to defeat it was to realize he could not
win and to give up, which caused the Anomaly's M-Body to break
apart into energy fractals.

When Maelstrom, at the time himself in a
somewhat abstract form and serving as an avatar of Oblivion,
attacked the Anomaly, he simply choked it and seemingly killed
it. Clearly he only affected the M-Body, as the Anomaly appeared
a short time later none the worse for wear.

History: The Anomaly is an abstract
entity, which may be as old as the current universe, or possibly
even pre-date it. It claims that it was not born an abstract
entity, but that it assumed the function of concept embodiment
when it determined to manifest itself in the Earth dimension. It
perceived an unfilled conceptual niche and bioformed itself to
suitably fill it. It is unclear whether other abstract entities
have similar origins, or if the Anomaly is...anomalous.

When the deviant/inhuman hybrid known as
Maelstrom became an agent of Oblivion, he sought out the Anomaly.
After questioning it on its origins, Maelstrom, presumably using
power derived from Oblivion, seemingly choked it to death and
took on its abilities for himself. Whether Oblivion's power was
sufficient to overwhelm Anomaly, or it was caught unawares, or it
simply allowed Maelstrom to believe he had destroyed it is
unclear. As we later learned, it was only the M-Body of an
abstract entity which physical beings encounter, and it was this
that was choked to death by Maelstrom.

The entity known as Origin had created a
temporal anomaly by changing Quasar's costume retroactively
throughout time on what seemed to be a whim. While battling
Maelstrom (who was then the current manifestation of Anomaly),
Quasar used this fact to reveal he was an anomalous pocket of
reality inversion. The knowledge that he was not the supreme or
even the only anomaly in existence was sufficient to overwhelm
Maelstrom's concentration and cause his form to be disintegrated
by the Quantum Bands, which he had usurped from Quasar.

When Quasar and the Contemplator journeyed to
the Dimension of Manifestations, they disrupted a hearing of the
Living Tribunal. The Anomaly attacked Quasar, but let him go free
when he agreed to desist his disruption. Shortly thereafter,
Quasar encountered the comatose M-Body of Eternity, the result of
an attack by the Magus. When he attempted to investigate
further, he was again attacked by the Anomaly. This time the
Anomaly, having realized that Quasar had invoked his attributes
without permission against Maelstrom, refused to let him go and
threatened to end his life. Quasar was able to defeat him by
realizing that normal logic was inapplicable to the Anomaly. On
advice of the Contemplator, Quasar gave up, which caused the
Anomaly's M-Body to disperse. The Anomaly has almost certainly
reformed another M-Body since that time.

Comments: Created by Mark Gruenwald and
Greg Capulo.

per Kyle Smith: The visual design
for the character Anomaly comes from one of the fossils on the
570 million year old stone called the Burgess Shale. This
comparatively alien-looking, caterpillar-like, spiny specimen is
known as "Hallucigenia."

Clarifications: The Anomaly I
is not to be confused with:

The Anomaly which was actually one
of the compaction receptacles involved in the "Cosmic Squish
Principle" @ Sensational She-Hulk#13

The Anomaly which was either of two or a collection of both pyramids created by the contemplator
to enable iron fist to contact him, first in Marvel Comics
Presents#125/4

The Anomaly, an unofficial
title used by Maelstrom when he temporarily usurped this Anomaly's role,
@ Quasar#20